Hold-in transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for applying suction to a sheet while simultaneously applying a hold-in force to loose rivets contained in apertures in said sheet to enable the said sheet to be lifted and stepadvanced so that the rivets so engaged may be threaded into apertures of a next adjacent sheet prior to heading the rivets to secure the said sheet and said next adjacent sheet together.

United States Patent 91 29/DIG. 44, 203 V Bende et al. 1 Mar. 27, 1973 HOLD-IN TRANSFER APPARATUS fl' e te 75 Inventors: Albert J. Bende; Ralph L. Defalco, UNITED STATES PATENTS 30th West Chester 2,602,562 7/1952 Bresciani ..29/20s D Assigneez C p Bryant V I Dowmgtown Prin uzry Examiner''Ihomas H. Eager [22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1971' Attomey-Thomas I. Davenport et a1.

[21] Appl. No.: l 9-0,873 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for applying suction to a sheet while simul- [52] US. Cl ..29/200 J, 29/243.53, 29/DIG. 44 taneously applying a ho|d in force to loose rivets tained in apertures in said sheet to enable the said [51] Int. Cl. ..B23p 19/00, B23p ll/OO sheet to be lifted and step-advanced so that the rivets v so engaged may be threadedinto apertures of a next [58] Field of Search.29/2OO P, 200 J, 208 D, 243.53, adjacent sheet prior to heading the rivets to secure the said sheet and said next adjacent sheet together.

4 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 or 2 PATEP-HEUHiRZYIUYS INVENTORS ALBERT J- BENDE BY RALPH LDEFALCO M "3' M AGENT HOLD-IN TRANSFER APPARATUS I-Ieretofore side panel assemblies for truck trailer bodies have been fabricated by hand. Several operators first position successive apertured sheets of material in edge overlapping arrangement so that apertures in the sheets are aligned with apertures in post members forming part of the assembly. With two sheets properly positioned relative to a post, rivets are inserted in the aligned apertures in the panel and post and thereafter are step-advanced beneath the ram of a rivet press to upset or head the rivets. Additional sheets are added by repeating the sequence of steps above. The panel assembly so built up by the addition of successive sheets is conveyed on a run-out table until the desired length of panel assembly is obtained, frequently in excess of 40 feet in length.

Particular difficulties have been experienced during the step-advancing phase of the above described sequence. Often the preceeding rivet heading operation introduces slight bowing in the sheets causing the loose rivets to pop-up out of their respective aligned apertures. Oftentimes in other instances the inherent stresses in the flexible sheet material cause bowing along the overlap joint prior to the heading operation which causes the rivets to becomedisengaged, In still other instances non-uniform forces applied to move the panel assembly along the run-out table causes the rivets to become dislocated thereby requiring their replacement.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which avoids one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art assembly procedures.

It is another important object of this invention to provide pressure actuated apparatus for keeping loose rivets in place in a sheet as the same is lifted and fed into position for assembly with a next adjacent sheet.

It is still another important object of this invention to provide apparatus .for applyingsuction to a sheet while simultaneously applying ahold-in force to loose rivets contained in the sheet to enable the sheet to. be lifted and step-advanced so that the rivets so engaged may be threaded into apertures of a next adjacent sheet prior to heading the rivets to secure the sheets together.

In accordance with the apparatus of the invention, pressure lifting means is provided for transferring an apertured first sheet having loose rivets therein for assembly with a second apertured sheet to enable heading of the rivets to form, for example, a side panel as sembly for a trailer body. The apparatus comprises hold-in means having pressure actuated means for engagement with one surface of said apertured first sheet.

The hold-in means further includes a flange portion for exerting axial pressure on the loose rivets to cause the same to protrude from the opposite surface of the first sheet while the sheet is simultaneously lifted and advanced in a manner to cause the protruding rivet ends to be threaded into apertures in said second sheet. The lifting apparatus is thereafter disengaged from said first sheet and the rivets so threaded through said first and said second sheets are headed to form a panel assembly.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of trailer body showing side panel assemblies constructed in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing sheet members making up the side panel assembly joined by rivets;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vacuum lifting apparatus in lifting engagement with a sheet which is to be joined to another sheet as illustrated by FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view-taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 through one of the suction devices illustrated in active lifting engagement with a sheet and loose rivets prior to being assemblied with another sheet;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 3 through one of the suction devices;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 3 illustrating the construction in cross-section of the venturi devices of the suction system;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 77 of FIG. 3 illustrating the valve mechanism for activating and de-activating the suction devices;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating a piping arrangement between the various suction devices of the rivet hold-in apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an apertured sheet used in the assembly of a side panel;

FIG. 10 is .an enlarged fragmentary view of the sheet shown in FIG. 9 and illustrating rivets being inserted in aperturesin the sheet;

FIG. 11 shows the lifting apparatus of the present invention in engagement with the top surface of the sheet illustrated in FIG. 10 to apply a hold-in force to the rivets;

FIG. 12 illustrates the sheet and suction apparatus of FIG. 12 moved so that the sheet is in overlapping relationship with another sheet to be joined thereto and the rivetsin the first sheet are aligned with apertures in the second sheet;

FIG. 13 shows loose rivets of the first sheet in threaded engagement with the rivets of the second sheet;

FIG. 14 shows the rivets passed through the first and second sheets of FIG. 13 being subjected to a heading operation to join the" sheets together.

With reference now toj'the drawings in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is seen a truck trailer body 10 having side panel assemblies 11 fabricated by the apparatus of the present invention. The side panel assemblies are of considerable height. and length and include first and second panels 12, 14 respectively joined in overlapping edge relationship by rivets to upright posts 17, FIG. 2. The posts are generally hat-shaped in cross-section and include offset flange portions 19 which bridge and support the overlapped joint between the sheets and receive the rivets 15. Due to the great length and height of the truck side panel assemblies 11, novel pressure actuated apparatus 21 is employed in accordance with the instant invention to apply a hold-in force to rivets 15 as successive sheets-12, 14 are moved in place to be riveted to posts 17 in fabricating the truck side panel assemblies 11.

With reference now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the novel pressure actuated lifting apparatus 21 is in the form of a rigid lifting bar 23 which has a length which corresponds in general to the height of the side panel assembly 11 i.e. the length of the sheets 12, 14, which are to be lifted. The sheets 12, 14 are in most instances very thin and tend to bend and flex quite readily. The lifting bar 23 is hat-shaped in cross-section and includes a top horizontally disposed center portion 25 with downwardly depending sloping side walls 27 which terminate in laterally horizontally outwardly extending flanges 28, the latter shown as lying in the same plane, one with another. A plurality of vacuum mounting blocks 31 each having a longitudinal throughrunning bore 33 are mounted on the inside or lower face 26 of center portion 25 as by screws 32. Each mounting block includes a vertical bore 34 in the lower portion of the block which communicates with the longitudinal bore 33. A hollow screw 35 secures a vacuum suction cup 37 of suitable resilient material. The latter suction cup includes a hollow neck portion 38 through which the screw 33 passes, and a circular skirt portion 39 extends laterally outwardly from the lower perimeter of the neck portion. When a suitable suction force is applied through the mounting block the skirt portion 39 makes flat engagement with the top surface of sheet 12. When the suction force is disabled through the block and the sheet 12 is removed out of range of the suction device the skirt 39 assumes the phantom line position of the skirt. Moreover, when the skirt is in its active position as'aforedescribed the outwardly extending flanges 28 of the lifting bar apparatus 23 exerts a jold-in force on the rivets. As seen in FIG. 4 the skirt in its active suction exerting position extends a slight distance below the plane containing the lower surface of opposed flanges 28, which distance corresponds to the distance indicated by the reference character d and is such so as to exert an axial force on the rivets 15. The magnitude of the forces exerted enable lifting and moving of the plate 12 in a manner to facilitate threading of the shank portions of the rivets into apertures of a next adjacent sheet 14 in a manner to be later described.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the manner by which the various suction mounting blocks 31 contained in the suction bar 23 are interconnected is illustrated schematically. A source of suction 41 such as a supply of air under pressure is suitably fed to an on-off manual control valve 43 mounted externally of bar 23. A pair of adjustment valves 44, 44 connected to valve 43 at one end are in turn connected to said plurality of mounting blocks 31 and a plurality of mounting blocks 31 a connected in series respectively by conduits 46 and 46a.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 4, it is noted that valve 43 includes a manually actuatable handle 48 which is movable from an operative position to enable activation of the suction devices 31, 31a to an inoperative position corresponding to the phantom line position of the handle in which the suction devices are inactivated.

With reference now to FIGS. 9 to 14 inclusive the method of assemblying the side panel assembly 11 of the truck trailer body illustrated in FIG. 1 consists in providing a first sheet 12 having apertures 50 therein, FIG. 9. Thereafter rivets are loosely inserted in the panel 12 so that the heads of the rivets bottom on the top surface of plate 12. Thereafter the aforedescribed pressure actuated means 21 is positioned above the aforementioned top sheet 12 and lowered so that its opposed flanges 28 come down on top of the heads of the rivets 15. As seen in FIG. 9 the rivet holes are in aligned rows parallel to an edge of the panel Two such rows indicated are parallel to one side edge of the panel and correspond to the widthor spacing of the flanges 19 of the post 17 to which the sheet 12 is to be fastened, in addition, a single row of apertures is provided along the opposite edge of the sheet.

With reference to FIG. 12 the aforementioned post 17 includes flanges 19 spaced apart laterally the same distance as the rows of apertures in sheet 12. The flanges 19 moreover include apertures 54 which are spaced longitudinally corresponding to the longitudinal spacing of the apertures in sheet 12. A second panel 14 is provided with a row of apertures 55 along a longitudinal edge thereof which apertures correspond in spacing to the apertures 54 in flanges of the post 17 as well as the apertures in sheet 12. The sheet 14 is shown overlapping one of the flanges 19 of post 17. As seen in FIG. 12 the post 17 is located in a manner to rest on a support 57 while sheet 14 is positioned to rest on a table support 59. The apertures 55 in sheet 14 and apertures 54 in post 17 are aligned in a manner to permit passage of the shanks of rivets 15 therethrough. With the sheet 14 and post 17 so aligned the vacuum lifting apparatus 21 with its flanges 28 applying a holdin force to the tops of rivets 15, and with the circular skirts 39 in suction contact with the top surface of sheet 12, the sheet 12 is bodily lifted so as to be positioned above sheet 14 in such a manner that the rivet shanks of rivets 15 are axially aligned with apertures 54 and 56 respectively in sheet 14 and flange 19 of post 17. By forcing the rivets down and applying suction to the top surface of sheet 12, the rigid bar operates to keep the sheet straight, taut, flat and permits the holes of the top sheet to coincide with the holes in sheet 14 below. The

sheet 12 with pressure actuated apparatus 21 still exerting a hold-in force on the rivets 15 is then lowered so that the rivet shanks enter the aligned holes 54 and 56. This action places an edge of sheet 12 in overlapping contact with an opposed edge of sheet 14. Thereafter the vacuum lifting apparatus is suitably disabled by altering the vacuum supply by operation of valve 43 via handle 48 of the apparatus and removed from contact from the rivet heads and from the top of sheet 12.

With reference now to FIG. 13 the sheets 12 and 14 are shown in overlapping relationship above the left flange l9, and the lower ends of the shanks of the rivets are shown projecting through the apertures in both sheets and the flanges 19 of the post. A second row of rivets is also seen projecting through another row of apertures in the sheet 12 and the apertures in an opposed flange 19 of the post. With the sheets 12, 14, and post 17 so assembled, upper 61 and lower rivet heading elements 63 as seen in FIG. 14 are brought together as seen in FIG. 14 to thereby upset the rivets and thereby fasten the sheets and posts together. The assembly of subsequent sheets to those assembled as above described may be accomplished by repeating the above described sequence of operations.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and it is aimed to cover all such changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: g

1. Means for holding a row of rivets and the like in apertures of a first thin flexible sheet member to facilitate its assembly with a second member having apertures aligned with those in said first member, comprising an elongated rigid holding member adapted for engaging said row of rivets, attaching means including a plurality of suction cups attached to said holding direction normal to the plane of said flexible sheet and to thereby cause portions of said rivets to project beyond said first sheet for entry in said aligned aperture of said second sheet.

2. The means for holding rivets and the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein said holding member comprises an elongated bar having a pair of flange portions for engaging the heads of rivets in a pair of rows of apertures in said first sheet member.

3. The means for holding rivets and the like as set forth in claim 2 wherein said elongated bar includes a top portion, said pair of flange portions of said bar extending below said top portion, and wherein said plurality of suction cups are positioned between said pair of flanges, said suction cups when actuated into gripping engagement with said top surface of said first member extending below flanges to exert a hold-in pressure on said rivets. Y

4. The means for holding a row of rivets as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of attaching means including a plurality of suction cups are connected in series to a source of air under pressure, and including manual means for activating and de-activating said attaching means. 

1. Means for holding a row of rivets and the like in apertures of a first thin flexible sheet member to facilitate its assembly with a second member having apertures aligned with those in said first member, comprising an elongated rigid holding member adapted for engaging said row of rivets, attaching means including a plurality of suction cups attached to said holding member, each of said suction cups including deformable resilient skirt portions for engaging a surface of said first flexible sheet member, means for activating said suction cups to cause said skirt portions to grip said flexible sheet member and to contract in a direction normal to the plane of said flexible sheet to cause said holding member to exert a force on said rivets in a direction normal to the plane of said flexible sheet and to thereby cause portions of said rivets to project beyond said first sheet for entry in said aligned aperture of said second sheet.
 2. The means for holding rivets and the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein said holding member comprises an elongated bar having a pair of flange portions for engaging the heads of rivets in a pair of rows of apertures in said first sheet member.
 3. The means for holding rivets and the like as set forth in claim 2 wherein said elongated bar includes a top portion, said pair of flange portions of said bar extendiNg below said top portion, and wherein said plurality of suction cups are positioned between said pair of flanges, said suction cups when actuated into gripping engagement with said top surface of said first member extending below flanges to exert a hold-in pressure on said rivets.
 4. The means for holding a row of rivets as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of attaching means including a plurality of suction cups are connected in series to a source of air under pressure, and including manual means for activating and de-activating said attaching means. 